Excavating machine

ABSTRACT

The application discloses a backhoe dipper stick and clamshell bucket combination. A bucket support is pivoted to the dipper stick and a cylinder is connected to the dipper stick to swing and bucket about laterally extending axis. The bucket support has downwardly extending lugs which pivotally receive a king pin. The king pin is also received in the upwardly extending lugs connected to a tilt support and fixed to them. The king pin has crank arms fixed to an intermediate part of it and the crank arms are connected to the piston rod of a tilting cylinder which is supported on the bucket support. The tilting cylinder will tilt the bucket about the axially extending king pin. The tilt support has a pivot member connected to it and the pivot member is connected to a bucket bracket. The bucket bracket pivotally supports links that are fixed to each of the buckets. The bucket cylinder is connected to each side of the bucket bracket and the bucket cylinders each have a piston rod connected to one of the buckets so that the buckets can be swung toward each other and away from each other providing a full clamshell bucket action.

United States Patent [1 1 McCain July 29, 1975 1 EXCAVATING MACHINE Willard E. McCain, 6431 W. Heidlier Rd., Fairview, Pa. 16415 [76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl 214/138 R; 37/183 R; 214/145 [51] Int. Cl. E02F 3/30 [58] Field of Search 214/138, 767, 768, 145; 37/183, 184

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,496,696 2/1950 Burner et al 214/768 3,231,116 1/1966 Powell 214/138 R 3,252,606 5/1966 Pryor 214/767 3,273,729 9/1966 Holopainen... 214/138 R 3,462,029 8/1969 Mork 214/138 R 3,550,794 12/1970 Suverkrop 214/138 R Primary Examiner-Robert .l. Spar Assistant Examiner-Ross Weaver 5 7 ABSTRACT The application discloses a backhoe dipper stick and clamshell bucket combination. A bucket support is pivoted to the dipper stick and a cylinder is connected to the dipper stick to swing and bucket about laterally extending axis. The bucket support has downwardly extending lugs which pivotally receive a king pin. The king pin is also received in the upwardly extending lugs connected to a tilt support: and fixed to them. The king pin has crank arms fixed to an intermediate part of it and the crank arms are connected to the piston rod of a tilting cylinder which is supported on the bucket support. The tilting cylinder will tilt the bucket about the axially extending king pin. The tilt support hasa pivot member connected to it and the pivot member is connected to a bucket bracket. The bucket bracket pivotally supports links that are fixed to each of the buckets. The bucket cylinder is connected to each side of the bucket bracket and the bucket cylinders each have a piston rod connected to one of the buckets so that the buckets can be swung toward each other and away from each other providing a full clamshell .bucket action.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SHEET PATENTED JUL 2 9 I975 EXCAVATING MACHINE REFERENCE TO PRIOR ART This disclosure constitutes an improvement over US. Pat. No. 3.252.606.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is. accordingly. an object of the invention to provide an improved dipper stick and clamshell bucket.

Another object of the invention is to provide the dipper stick and clamshell bucket and means to swing the bucket pivotally about two separate axes perpendicular to each other and to swing each of the buckets relative to the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved support for a clamshell bucket in combination with a dipper stick.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form. size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side view of the combination according to the invention. showing the buckets in closed position.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the combination shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the buckets in open position.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the machine disclosed is made up generally ofa dipper stick l0, buckets 32 and 33, which may be swung relative to each other and be tilted relative to the dipper stick 10. The dipper stick may be supported on a backhoe dipper stick or the like by suitable supporting arrangement familiar to those skilled in the art. The dipper stick l0 and the first bucket 32 may be used like the bucket and the dipper stick of US. Pat. No. 3.231.116. In addition thereto the second bucket 33, which is swingably connected to the first bucket 32 and controlled by cylinders 34, can be opened and closed with the rear bucket thereby forming a clamshell bucket.

The bucket support 11 is made up of the spaced side plates 12 which have the lugs 14 and 15 disposed between them and fixed to the side plates 12. The lugs 14 and 15 extend downwardly below side plates 12 and each have two spaced axially extending holes aligned with each other. These axially aligned holes receive the king pin 25. The lugs 14 and 15 each have two laterally spaced axially extending holes that receive the members 50. Members 50 are fixed to the cylinders 26. The members 50 allow the cylinders to swing.

Lugs 14 and 15 are in the form of plates that are fixed to the spaced plates 12 of the bucket support and extend downwardly.

The first bucket 32 has a relatively heavy top plate 52 to which the two laterally spaced flanges are fixed.

Brackets 56 are also fixed to plate 52. Brackets 23 and 24 are generally triangular in shape. The lower edges of the brackets 23 and 24 are received between the spaced flanges 30 and pins 44 and 45 extend through holes in the flanges 30 and through the holes in the lower ends of the brackets 23 and 24. The upper ends of the brackets 23 and 24 each have a hole which receives king pin 25 and brackets 23 and 24 are fixed to king pin 25. The second bucket 33 has a top plate 57 and spaced flanges 31 fixed to top plate 57. Pin 43 extends through flanges 31 on second bucket 33 and through flanges 30 on first bucket 32 thereby swingably connecting the second bucket 33 to the first bucket 32. The cylinders 34 each have spaced lugs 49 fixed to the end of the cylinder opposite piston rod 46. These lugs 49 receive the pins 51. Spaced pairs of lugs 40 are welded to the front part of the plate 57. Each pair of lugs 40 receives the piston rods 46 between them. Pins 36 extend through the lugs 40 and through the piston rods 46. The second bucket 33 can be swung to the position shown in FIG. 3 by means of the cylinder 34 and swung backward to the position shown in FIG. 2. The entire bucket assembly including buckets 32 and 33 and brackets 23 and 24 can be swung laterally by means of cylinders 26 and piston rods 38 which are connected to lugs 28.

The lower end of the dipper stick 10 is pivoted by pin 42 to the side plates 12. Links '18 are pivoted to dipper stick 10 by pin 21 and to the common point of the piston rod 41 and the links 19 by means of pin 20. Links 19 are pivoted to the side plates 12 by means of pivot 22.

It will be seen that the crank arms 28 are fixed to the king pin 25 and king pin 25 is fixed to the brackets 23 and 24. Thus by means of the cylinders 26, the buckets 32 and 33 can be swung laterally from the central position shown in full lines in FIG. 2 to either of the dashed line positions. By means of the cylinder 17, the two buckets 32 and 33 can be swung longitudinally and by means of the cylinders 34, the [bucket 33 can be swung from open position shown in FIG. 3 to the closed position shown in FIG. 1. Thus the machine can be used as a regular backhoe or as a clamshell.

The buckets 32 and 33 each have a flat top that are generally triangular in shape and have an arcuate outer edge and 61 which extends between jaws 63 and 64 and sides 56 and 57 respectively. Lugs 40 are fixed to side 57 remote from pivot 43.

The bucket disclosed herein can be controlled in all of its functions from the cab of the vehicle on which it is mounted. The bucket has wrist action that is rotatable about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle as well as about the ordinary lateral action. It is made so that one-half of the bucket can be removed and the other half can be used for ordinary backhoe operation. The half that has been removed can be reinstalled when it is desired to use the clam type operation.

The teeth on the buckets are bolted on and can be removed for ditch cleaning and clean up and other job applications where teeth are not required. Grapple tongs could be substituted for the bucket parts when this is desired.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination, a dipper stick and a clamshell bucket,

said clamshell bucket being made up of a first bucket member and a second bucket member,

a bucket support,

said dipper stick being swingably connected to said bucket support,

means to swing said bucket support relative to said dipper stick,

axially spaced downwardly extending lugs fixed to said bucket support,

said first bucket member having two first spaced axially extending flanges fixed thereto and two second spaced axially extending flanges fixed thereto and disposed between said first axially extending flanges,

said second bucket member having two spaced lugs fixed thereto,

and two third spaced axially extending flanges fixed to said second bucket member and disposed between said lugs on said second bucket member and,

upwardly extending lugs fixed to said first bucket member and disposed between said second axially extending flanges,

means connecting said lugs on said second bucket member to said second flanges on said first bucket member,

king pin means extending through said downwardly extending lugs and through said upwardly extending lugs,

said king pin means being fixed to said upwardly ex tending lugs,

crank means fixed to said king pin means and first hydraulic cylinder means connected to said bucket support and said crank means for swinging said bucket about said king pin means,

means swingably connecting said first flanges and said third flanges whereby said second bucket member is swingably connected to said first bucket member,

and second hydraulic cylinder means connected to said first flanges and to said lugs on said second bucket member for swinging said second bucket member relative to said first bucket member.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said means for swinging said bucket about said laterally extending axis comprises a first link and a second link,

each having a first end and a second end,

and a third hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod,

pivot means connecting said first end of said first link, said first end of said second link, and the distal end of said piston rod together,

said second end of said first link being pivotally connected to the dipper stick,

said second end of said second link being pivotally connected to said bucket support.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein two said first hydraulic cylinder are supported on said bucket support and each said first hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod, two cranks fixed to said king pin, each said piston rod of said first hydraulic cylinder being fixed to a said crank.

4, The combination recited in claim 3 wherein said first bucket member and said second bucket member each have a relatively flat top plate thereon.

said first lugs, first flanges and said second flanges are fixed to said top plate said second lugs and said third flanges are fixed to said flat plate on said second bucket member.

5. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein said king pin has two spaced crank members,

and said piston rod of said first cylinder is received between said two cranks.

6. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein pivot means is provided on said bucket support generally parallel to said king pin pivotally supporting said first cylinders.

7. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein two said first links are provided disposed one on each side of said dipper stick,

and two said second links are provided disposed one on each side of said first links and said bucket support.

8. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said bucket support has spaced side plates fixed thereto and extending upwardly therefrom,

said dipper stick is connected to said bucket support by means connected to said upwardly extending side plates.

9. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said first bucket part has a flat top,

said means connecting said first bucket part to said bucket support comprises spaced flanges pivotally connected to said bucket support.

10. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said second bucket part is removable from said first bucket part whereby said first bucket part is useable as an earth working device. 

1. In combination, a dipper stick and a clamshell bucket, said clamshell bucket being made up of a first bucket member and a second bucket member, a bucket support, said dipper stick being swingably connected to said bucket support, means to swing said bucket support relative to said dipper stick, axially spaced downwardly extending lugs fixed to said bucket support, said first bucket member having two first spaced axially extending flanges fixed thereto and two second spaced axially extending flanges fixed thereto and disposed between said first axially extending flanges, said second bucket member having two spaced lugs fixed thereto, and two third spaced axially extending flanges fixed to said second bucket member and disposed between said lugs on said second bucket member and, upwardly extending lugs fixed to said first bucket member and disposed between said second axially extending flanges, means connecting said lugs on said second bucket member to said second flanges on said first bucket member, king pin means extending through said downwardly extending lugs and through said upwardly extending lugs, said king pin means being fixed to said upwardly extending lugs, crank means fixed to said king pin means and first hydraulic cylinder means connected to said bucket support and said crank means for swinging said bucket about said king pin means, means swingably connecting said first flanges and said third flanges whereby said second bucket member is swingably connected to said first bucket member, and second hydraulic cylinder means connected to said first flanges and to said lugs on said second bucket member for swinging said second bucket member relative to said first bucket member.
 2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said means for swinging said bucket about said laterally extending axis comprises a first link and a second link, each having a first end and a second end, and a third hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod, pivot means connecting said first end of said first link, said first end of said second link, and the distal end of said piston rod together, said second end of said first link being pivotally connected to the dipper stick, said second end of said second link being pivotally connected to said bucket support.
 3. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein two said first hydraulic cylinder are supported on said bucket support and each said first hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod, two cranks fixed to said king pin, each said piston rod of said first hydraulic cylinder being fixed to a said crank.
 4. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein said first bucket member and said second bucket member each have a relatively flat top plate thereon, said first lugs, first flanges and said second flanges are fixed to said top plate said second lugs and said third flanges are fixed to said flat plate on said second bucket member.
 5. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein said king pin has two spaced crank members, and said piston rod of said first cylinder is received between said two cranks.
 6. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein pivot means is provided on said bucket support generally parallel to said king pin pivotally supporting said first cylinders.
 7. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein two said first links are provided disposed one on each side of said dipper stick, and two said second links are provided disposed one on each side of said first links and said bucket support.
 8. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said bucket support has spaced side plates fixed thereto and extendiNg upwardly therefrom, said dipper stick is connected to said bucket support by means connected to said upwardly extending side plates.
 9. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said first bucket part has a flat top, said means connecting said first bucket part to said bucket support comprises spaced flanges pivotally connected to said bucket support.
 10. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said second bucket part is removable from said first bucket part whereby said first bucket part is useable as an earth working device. 